SouthLake Christian’s near-perfect volleyball season ends in state final

Charlotte Latin won its eighth consecutive state volleyball championship with a 3-0 sweep against SouthLake Christian in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A finals in Cary on Oct. 29.

The loss was the first for SouthLake Christian this season after it won its first 27 matches. The Eagles won the NCISAA 2A championship last season and were playing their first season in 3A. SouthLake Christian defeated Forsyth Country Day, 3-2, in the quarterfinals on Oct. 28, and swept Charlotte Country Day in the semifinals on Oct. 29.

SouthLake Christian hitters Katie Schoenrock and Kaya Summer were named to the all-state team. Charlotte Latin finished 40-2.

Hough volleyball reaches fourth round

The Hough volleyball team advanced to the fourth round of the Class 4A state playoffs before being eliminated, 3-0, by Watauga on Oct. 30. The Huskies had swept Watauga in a match last month.

Hough finished its standout second season with a 28-4 record and won the I-MECK 4A conference championship. The loss to Watauga snapped a 10-game winning streak.

The Huskies were led by Kailyn Overcash, Julie Brown, Kat Kennedy, Nicole Destefano, Nikki Hero and Paige Zartman.

Hough clinches I-MECK 4A soccer title

Hough clinched the I-MECK 4A conference boys soccer championship with a 5-2 victory against Mallard Creek on Oct. 26.

Santiago Patino scored three goals for the Huskies, who finished the regular season 19-1-2, 13-0-1 in conference games. James Jackson and Davis Park scored a goal apiece, and the Huskies got assists from Tanner Roberts (two), Michael Basnett, Cheyn Roux and Park.

Hough began the season 1-1 and is unbeaten in its past 20 games (18-0-2). The Huskies were scheduled to open the Class 4A state playoffs at home against Ardrey Kell (14-5) on Nov. 2.

Lake Norman Charter volleyball streak ends

The Lake Norman Charter volleyball team’s winning streak ended at 25 with a 3-2 loss to Hendersonville in the third round of the Class 1A state playoffs on Oct. 27.

Hendersonville won the first two games, 25-17 and 25-14, but Lake Norman Charter rallied to win the next two, 25-8 and 25-20. It set up a fifth game, which Hendersonville won, 15-13.

It capped the most successful volleyball season in Knights history.

Patriots’ Bradley makes all-state soccer

Davidson Day freshman C.J. Bradley was named to the NCISAA 2A all-state soccer team. He led the area with 25 goals.

Bradley also was named the Southern Piedmont Athletic Association conference Player of the Year. He was joined on the all-conference team by teammates Jax Goyette, Austin McCarty and Taylor Cox.

Davidson Day’s Zach Wolter and Jack Freeby were second-team all-conference picks.

Charter qualifies for state golf

The Lake Norman Charter girls golf team finished 10th among 13 teams in the Class 1A/2A state tournament Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Longleaf Country Club. It was the Knights’ first state championships appearance after finishing second in the 1A/2A Western Regional on Oct. 24.

Salisbury won the state title by 33 strokes with a 496 score. The best three scores of a team counted toward the team totals. Lake Norman Charter scored 629. The Knights’ top finisher was junior Maegan Ports, whose two-day score was 195 (94 and 101), followed by freshman Kaelyn Pack (98 and 99 for 197) and junior Kayla Thomas (118 and 119 for 237).

Salisbury’s Isabella Rusher won the state 1A/2A individual championship with a 157, one stroke ahead of Allea Hawkins (Hendersonville) and Emily Brooks (Northwood).

Huge softball events hit Huntersville

Visit Lake Norman and Huntersville’s Park and Recreation Department will host the Top Gun Softball’s Winter World Series Friday, Nov. 4 to Sunday, Nov. 6 at North Mecklenburg Park, while the Winter Nationals takes place Saturday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 13 at Bradford Park and North Mecklenburg Park.

The two Top Gun Sports events are estimated to generate at least $1.3 million in direct visitor spending.

Youth teams in age groups of 8 to 18 are expected to travel from Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. More than 200 teams have registered for the Winter World Series and 84 teams for the Winter Nationals.

Visit Lake Norman and Huntersville Park and Recreation Department hosted Top Gun Softball’s Summer World Series in July ,which generated an estimated $888,420 in economic impact and was the first Top Gun Softball national event the Lake Norman region has hosted.